On August 18, 2026, the UAE Defence Ministry reported that its air defence systems detected a missile threat targeting the country, prompting authorities to briefly issue a public alert urging residents to seek shelter.
Officials later confirmed that two ballistic missiles launched from Iran were involved. One missile landed outside UAE territorial waters and the other within them, with both falling into the sea and no reported land impacts.
The UAE stated that it remains on high alert and prepared to respond firmly. The incident marks the first such alert in months amid ongoing regional tensions.